[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: Misleading Debian's installer choice



Joey Hess wrote:
> Merciadri Luca wrote:
>   
>> First, I always found the `mount point' expression weird in this
>> context, because, for me, the mount point _is_ always the partition,
>> during the installation, but this is not the problem.
>>     
>
> You have this common terminology exactly backwards. One mounts /dev/hda1
> on mount point / or /dev/sdb5 on mount point /home; one does not mount
> /home on /dev/sdb5. HTH :-)  I fixed the next paragraph for you:
> | The biggest problem is that you are able to choose between, say, `/',
> | `/var/', '/usr/', `/home/', etc. But, without thinking a lot, `/'
> | *habitually* contains the rest. So, mounting say hda1 `/`, and
> | hdb1 on `/home/` could appear as weird for the user, at first glance (only).
>   
That must be the origin of my problem. Thanks.
>> I'm here speaking about users who're not beginners,
>> but who want to understand the distinction the Debian installer makes
>> between the `/' as it is normally in Linux filesystems, and the `/' in
>> the installation process, which is actually everything except what was
>> asked to be put on other partitions.
>>     
>
> The mental model that most non-beginners should have is that the system's
> root is / , which is where some system disk is mounted, and that additional
> disks are mounted to other mount points in the tree. The disk mounted at /
> is not a special case in not containing everything under /  -- the disk
> mounted on /home does not necessarily contain everything under /home either.
> (I may have another (larger) disk mounted on /home/joey.)
>
> Everything said in the installation process should be consistent with that.
> Of course, the installer doesn't require users understand this stuff either.
>   
/ +1, finally.
> But I think you're making it seem more complicated than it is.
>   
Well, just as many things. That's my problem. :(

Thanks.

-- 
Merciadri Luca
See http://www.student.montefiore.ulg.ac.be/~merciadri/
I use PGP. If there is an incompatibility problem with your mail
client, please contact me.


Walk softly, carry a big stick.

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: OpenPGP digital signature


Reply to: